palmer



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. R. PALMER.

. GRAVITY LATCH.

No. 474,263. Patented May 3, 1892;.

5523256 j1/67ZZOW W. Wm

(N0 Mode I.) v 3 Sheets--Sheet 2.

J. R; PALMER.

GRAVITY LATCH.

No. 474,263. Patented May 3, 1892.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- J. R. PALMER.

GRAVITY LATGH. No. 474,263. Patented May a, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOEL RUSSELL PALMER, OF SALISBURY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOOSCAR PALMER, OF SAME PLACE.

G RAVITY- LATC H SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.474,263, dated May 3, 1892.

.lpplication filed August 10, 1891- Serial No.4:02,195. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LJQEL RUssnLL PALMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salisbury, in the county of Charlton and State ofMissouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGravity-Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which YO it appertains to make and use thesame.

Mypresent invention relates to an improvement in looks and latches,theprimary object thereof being to design a perfect and completegravity-operating look, as I termitthatis [5tosay,onehavingagravity-operatinghammer or lever within the same, whichstrikes the latch and protrudes it from the casing and also operatesinconjunction with the locking devices to securely hold said latch, whendesired, in its projected position; and the invention therefore consistsin the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts,substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a planview of my improved lock with its casingopen and showing the severalparts in the position that they occupy when they are in the unlockedcondition and when the latch device is in the latched position. Fig. 2is a similar plan view showing the parts in the position that theyoccupy when they are in the unlocked and unlatched condition. Fig. 3 isa detail plan view of the locking-plate. Fig. 4 is a vertical edge viewof the same, showing the rib or flange thereon. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofmy improved lock, representing the parts in a locked position. Fig. 6 isa similar plan view representing the parts in the position that theyoccupy while in the act of looking or unlocking. Fig. 7 is a plan viewsimilar to Fig.

1, the casing being open to expose the inner arrangement of the variousparts and showing a modification in the mechanism whereby the knoboperates the weighted lever and latch, the parts being represented withthe latched device in the latched position and the other partscorrespondingly arranged.

Fig. 8 isa similar plan view representing the same modification, butshowing the parts 00- copying a different position-to wit, that whichthey assume when the latch device is in the unlatched position and theweighted lever has been lifted under the action of a modified form ofleverage which is attached to the knob-spindle.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutall the different figures of the drawings.

A represents the bottom plate of the casing of myimproved lock, and Athe sides of said casing, its coverbeing removed, so that allthe innermechanism may be clearly exposed to view. Said casing may of course beof any suitable shape, size, and form, and I do not intend to restrictmyself to any particular kind or design of easing, but reserve theliberty of employing any kind that may seem best fitted for thereception of the mechanical parts of the lock.

The plate A of the casing is provided with a key-hole a and theperforation a, through which passes the door-knob spindle D.

O designates the latch, which may be of the form shown in the drawings,being a double latch having the two latching parts 0 O, which workthrough suitable slots in the lockcasing, as shown in the severalfigures of the drawings. The form and shape of this latch may varywithin widelimits, and I am restricted to no particular pattern or kindthereof.

The latch O is provided with the inwardlyprojecting lug or pin 0,located near the bottom end thereof; also, the latch O is provided withthe integral extension F, which extends alongside one of the longer sidewalls of the lock-casing. This extension Fis provided on its edgeadjoining the casing-wall with a re- I cess 01' slot f, which receives arib or flange 0 on the locking-plate H, to be hereinafter described. Theextension F also is provided at its end with a recess G, preferablycurved, which partially surrounds the spindle-opening a, andconsequently the spindle D. The 5 two end parts of the extension Foneach side of the said recess G are provided with rightangled lugs G G.The edge of the extension F opposite the recess f is provided withanother recess which has oppositelyinclined 10c edges 9 and g, intocontact with which cer-v tain edges on the arm of the gravity-hammer aredesigned to come in the manner to be hereinafter set forth.

The knob-spindle D is provided with a couple of oppositely-projectinglugs D D, preferably cast integral therewith or else rigidly securedthereto, which lugs are adapted to come in contact with the lugs G G onthe latch-extension F. These lugs D D may be provided by affixing shortstrips to the side of the knob-spindle; but I prefer to cast themintegral with said spindle, so as to make the construction simpler andcheaper. It will be obvious that when the knob is rotated the saidprojections D will act upon the lugs G to shift 'the latch and retractit within the casing. (See Fig. 2.)

B designates a bent lever, its bend being, preferably, approximately ona right angle at B, the shorterarm of this right-angled lever beingpivoted at b by means of a suitable pivot pin or=stud b, fixed in thelock-casing. The long arm of this right-angled lever B is enlarged atthe outer end at B, so as to be weighted or heavy.- Said enlarged end Bmay, if desired, be'provided with an inserted piece of some very heavymetal, which is located within a slot or opening at B This additionalweight 13 supplements the weight of the end of the lever and causes thesaid lever to act more forcibly under the action of gravityw The pin 0on the latch 0 comes in contact with the right-angled lever B near thebend B so that this bent part of the lever actsas a hammer to driveagainst the pin 0, and thus force'outwardthe latch. Thus, supposing thebent lever to be in the position shown in Fig. 2, it will fall by theaction "of gravity in the direction ofthe arrow and by acting againstthe pin 0 will impel the latch forward and protrude its latch partthrough the slots in the lockcasing. The bent lever B is furthermoreprovided at a point beyond its pivot 11 with an extension or arm'Bhaving an inclined edge It, which is adapted to come in contact atcertain times with the inclined edge 9 on the latch-extension F, andhaving also its end formed with inclined edge Z, which is adapted to liecontiguous to the inclined edge g, at certain times, as shown in Figs. 1and 5. The extension or arm B is further- ,more provided on one of itssides with a lug E, projecting therefrom. I

H designates the'locking-plate. It is shown in detailplan View in Fig. 3and in edge view in Fig. 4. It lies in contact with the latch-extensionF and slides thereover. It is provided with a rib or flange I, whichenters the recess f and works therein. This flange I therefore guidesand limits the movement end'wise of the plate H. This plate H isprovided with acentral opening 11' of suitable size and shape, so thatthe plate is in reality a skeleton plate. The plate has a lug 77.projecting inwardly into the openingI-I. It also has on its lower edge acurved recess J, and in this curved recess 1s anauxiliary right-angledrecess j. The curved recess J and the auxiliary recess lie contiguous tothe keyhole a, and said recesses are designed to receive the key, sothat by this engagement of the key with the locking-plate the said platemay be shifted in one direction or the other. (See Fig. 6.) The lug h isdesigned to operate in conjunction with the lug E. When the parts are inthe position shown in Fig. 1, the lug E is located with the lug h on therighthand side of it. When'the parts are in the position shown in Fig.5, the lug E is located with the lug h on the left-hand side. In Fig. lthe parts are unlocked and in Fig. 5 they are locked. It is therefore byshifting the locking-plate so that the lug h maybe on the lefthand sideof the lug-E that the parts are locked. In unlocking the plate H isshifted back, so that the'lug It lies on the right-hand side of the lugE. Thus the weighted lever has a certain engagement or disengagement atdifferent times with the locking-plate, dependent upon the locked orunlocked condition of the parts. 7

- 7 I will nowproceedto describe the opera- 5 tion of my improved lockand latch. As we have already seen, when the knob is turned so as torotate the knob spindle-D the latch C will be shifted, so as to withdrawthe latching parts 0 within the case. In other words, the door may beunlatched in the ordinary way. During this operation of unlatching thepin 0 will strike against the bent weighted lever B and will oscillatesaid lever on its pivot, lifting the weighted end thereof. Consequentlyby rotating the spindle D the parts will be changed from the positionshown in Fig. 1 into the position shown in Fig. 2,where they areunlatched and where the weighted end of the lever is lifted. If now theonly desire of the person manipulating the knob is to open the door, itis evident that as soon as he releases his hold upon the knob theweighted lever will fall back into its normal position and thrust outthe latch again into its projected position in the usual manner.Suppose, however, that he desires to lock the door. He will firstmanipulate the knob, thus withdrawin g the latch and lifting theweighted lever. Then when the parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 2or Fig. 6' he will insert the keyand turn it, as shown in Fig. 6, sothat it will engage with the slot J and the auxiliary recess j in thelocking-plate H, andby turning said key around he will shift saidlocking-plate, soas to throw the end of said locking-plate against theadjoining shoulder on the latch C, and also place the lug h in suchposition that when theweightedlever falls, which it will of course do assoon as the operator releases his hold upon the door-knob, the lugE willfall to the right of the lug h instead of dropping down to the leftthereof, as

it would have done had not the locking-plate H been shifted and ash;actually does do in Figs. 1 and 2. In other words, the lockingplate Hhaving been shifted by the key into the position shown in Fig. 5 the lugE will,

locked securely.

as it were, a brace between the latch O and evennesa when the weightedlever falls back, be thrown into the position shown in said figure,where it is on the right hand of the lug h. It will now be seen that theparts of the lock are locked, and as the latch is protruded it also isin engagement and the door is latched and The locking-plate H forms,

the lug E, and inasmuch as said lug is stationary and immovable so longas the weighted lever remains down the door will be securely locked andcannot be opened except by the intervention of a key.

In order to unlock the door, the key will be inserted in the key-holeand turned in the reverse position, and the result of so turning it willbe to lift the lever-arm B thus lifting the lug E away from the positionto the right of the lug h, and then by continuing the rotation of thekey it will be caused to engage the recesses J and j, and thus the plateH will be moved sufficiently far to carry the lug 7L to the right of thelug E, and the unlocking will consequently be effected, after which theoperator by grasping the knob of the door can unlatch it in the usualway.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have represented a modified form of the mechanismwhereby the knobspindle is permitted to actuate the weighted lever, andthus impart motion to the latch device for the purpose of retracting orprojecting the latter. The latch 0, instead of having the projecting pina, is provided with a curved finger N, which engages a pin or stud M onthe weighted lever B. O designates a lever, which is provided at one endwith a square opening to permit the passage therethrough of thesquareknob-spindle D,whereby a firm and rigid connection is made betweenthe spindle and the lever, so that the lever will be oscillated wheneverthe spindle is rotated. The lever O is provided at its other end with arecess 0', which provides two fingers or projections 0 0, that aredesigned, re-

spectively, to operate against projections or lugs I" and P, formed onthe weighted lever B at points on opposite sides of the pivot Z), onwhich the lever B turns. Thus it will be seen that as the lever O isoscillated in one direction the finger or arm 0' will bear upon the lugP, and thus the weighted lever B will be shifted, and also when thelever O is oscillated in the opposite direction the fingerowill bearupon the lug P and the lever B will turn upon its pivot and be shiftedin the opposite direction. By this modified form of mechanism thereforeI provide a very simple and efficient knob-tumbler which can be used togreat advantage in many instances.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a lock, the combination of the latch 0, having the extension F,provided with lugs G, the weighted lever 13, having the arm B providedwith lug E, and the sliding lockingplate H, having central opening H andlug h and the key-recesses J j, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the latch 0, having the extension F, provided withrecesses f and G and lugs G, the gravity-lever B, pivoted at b andprovided with the arm B having lug E, and the sliding locking-plate H,having rib I, entering recess f and having the central opening H,wherein is lug h, said plate having also the key slot, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination of the latch 0, having the extension F, provided withthe recess f on one edge and the recess G at one end, on each side ofwhich are lugs G, the bent lever B, pivoted at b and having the arm 13,provided with lug E, the sliding plate H, having rib I,

that enters recess f, and having likewise central opening H, wherein islug h, and having also slots J j to receive the key, and the knobspindle1), having lugs or projections D thereon, all arranged substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOEL RUSSELL PALMER. Witnesses:

J. D. BRUMMALL, G. W. WELKER.

